Seven leading organisations have signed an agreement committing to establishing the Royal College of Pharmacy as the ‘professional leadership home’ for the sector.
The concordat commits the organisations to working collaboratively to develop a stronger, more inclusive, effective and sustainable pharmacy professional leadership model.
As well as the college, the signatories are the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK, the British Oncology Pharmacy Association, the College of Mental Health Pharmacy, the Pharmacy Forum Northern Ireland, the Primary Care Pharmacy Association and the UK Clinical Pharmacy Association.
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The British Pharmaceutical Students' Association is included within the royal college.
The concordat is published by the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board (UKPPLAB) and builds on its statement from February that the college provides a unique opportunity to transform the landscape of pharmacy professional leadership in the UK.
In a statement on Thursday Tase Oputu, president of the Royal College of Pharmacy, described the agreement as 'a significant moment for pharmacy professional leadership'.
'The concordat hands the baton to member organisations to make that unified future a reality, and I particularly welcome the clear articulation of UKPPLAB members' shared pledge to co-creating an ambitious and inclusive royal college as a wider home for pharmacy,’ she said.
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The concordat also sets out a timeline for pharmacy technicians to become part of the royal college, although this will require approval by members through a special resolution vote.
Ms Oputu emphasised that the college would need to demonstrate how it would 'protect distinct professional voices and create clear arrangements for equity and governance' before such a vote took place.
'To create a unified, collaborative future for pharmacy professional leadership, we need an ambitious long-term strategy for the royal college, and we are committed to ensuring our members, and the wider pharmacy community, can play their part in developing this strategy and help shape the future direction of the college,' she added.
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The UKPPLAB, comprising seven pharmacy professional leadership bodies, specialist professional groups and independent expert members, has been working since April 2024 to develop proposals for the future of professional leadership in pharmacy.
The royal college is planning to announce a programme of engagement, beginning in autumn 2026, to enable members and the wider pharmacy profession to help shape its future strategy.
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